The 40-year-old is a former tennis player and the University of Connecticut and became a triathlete after his playing days. That passion, fire and competitiveness he had as a student-athlete still burns.

“I’m a driven person,” Knuth said. “I go hard. I run hard. I play hard. I get after it.”

But Knuth’s first task at Nevada doesn’t require a hard-charging personality. It just requires ears.

“The first 60 days, 90 days, 100 days, however you want to term it, will be a lot of listening and be a lot of evaluating, watching and learning,” Knuth said. “And then it’s building a plan. I don’t have a timeline, but we’ll have plan in place soon for (UNR president Marc Johnson) and for our future success.”

The first 100 days of Knuth’s term will largely be marked by beginning to build relationship, he said. Those relationships will form with student-athlete, coaches, fans, athletic administration, business leaders and UNR facility. Knuth showed Thursday he’s already done his share of research.

During his 30-minute press conference, Knuth cited some deeply dug facts. He knew the Wolf Pack has student-athletes from 19 states and 21 countries. He said seven of the team’s 15 head coaches were either student-athletes or assistant coaches at Nevada, a fact he believes is a big benefit.

“That gives you a chance to run and run fast right out of the gate because they all know our core values,” said Knuth, the former senior associate athletic director at Utah.

Knuth’s first 100 days will circle around building partnerships within the community. He said those partnerships are essential to fixing Nevada’s financial issues, which are glaring in the more competitive Mountain West, which the department debuted in this year. Knuth said the Wolf Pack’s revenue woes can be fixed.

“You have to build a trust and you have to have a vision and direction people believe in,” Knuth said. “If you have those two things, people are willing to help. But those two things have to be in place.”

While Knuth doesn’t officially start at Nevada until April 22, he’s basically in charge right now. He’s been on the phone with Wolf Pack administrators every day since getting the job. He plans to move to Reno the first week of April. His wife, Marilyn, and two young kids were at the press conference Thursday.

“Frankly, if Marilyn would let me, I’d be here tomorrow morning,” Knuth said. “That’s how excited I am. There’s a lot of stuff to do and I want to be here as quickly as I can.”

Along with football coach Brian Polian, hired in January, the Wolf Pack has seen a major transformation over the past couple of months. Knuth spoke highly of former football coach Chris Ault and outgoing athletic director Cary Groth, but he said the two new hires have given the Wolf Pack a different feel.

“There’s a new energy with this university, there’s a new energy with this athletic department and there’s a new energy in the community,” Knuth said. “There’s something in the air with this new energy and it’s a pretty special feeling. Everybody is excited for this new direction. We have an unbelievable staff, we have great coaches and we have great student-athletes. We’re going to win here.”

Invest in the other sports and everyone will benefit. Women's golf is on the rise due the the coaching and recruiting of Coach Spencer; they are far from "below average". His recruiting would be made easier if there was an indoor practice facility that the players didn't have to share with the public. I know they had the plans drawn up for one a couple of years back but it must have fallen through? Players, in all sports, become better with hard work. Give them the facilities and watch your women's programs improve. Let's face it, the weather is a factor in Reno and it definitely affects the fall sports. UNR is a great school and I'm excited to see the "new blood" in the athletics department. I like your plan of attack and I think getting the student/athletes more involved with the community will go a long way.Go Pack!

According to the MWC website Mr. Murray Nevada is ranked #2 in the conference behind UNLV and has two players in the top ten individually. In the Wolf Pack Blog your research may not be "below average" but in the real world of sports reporting it is "below average". :) JK What's a gold area? https://secure.sportssystems.com/ScoreReporting/views/default/report.cfm?conferenceID=9&sportID=3&g=W

According to the Mountain West website, the Wolf Pack women's golf team ranks fifth among the MWC's nine teams on the Golfweek/Sagarin Ratings. The team is ranked No. 101 in the country. Nationally, that might not be "below average," but in the MWC it is "below average." The probation period/scholarship losses obviously didn't help. As for the practice facility, the planned in-door facility anchored around the football team could include a golf area.

Stroke average is what determines the MWC Champion???????????? Do your homework and check the results of head to head battles between New Mexico State, Boise State and Fresno State...Nevada has beaten them in almost every head to head battle. Rankings don't determine jack unless you're vying for #1 in the country. I'm shocked how negative you are towards a women's program but then again I guess that's why you're a "below average" blogger. Or did you think they gave the MWC Championship to the highest ranked team?? I wouldn't be shocked if that's what you thought based on your previous comments. It all comes down to who has the lowest amount of strokes at the end of the championship; not what you are ranked nationally. And based on the current conference standings Nevada is #2 with a good shot at winning the championship with two freshman, two sophomores and one senior in the starting line up. Young and far from below average Mr. Murray.

About this blog

Longtime RGJ Media reporter Dan Hinxman is the authority on Wolf Pack athletics, bringing you the day-to-day coverage of Nevada’s sports teams. Dan has covered almost everything the Northern Nevada sports scene has to offer and will use his knowledge to bring you authoritative and engaging Wolf Pack content. Follow him on Twitter at @DanHinxmanRGJ.